Folding voting-booth



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' J. W- ERNEST.

FOLDING VOTING BOOTH.

' Patented July 23, 1895.

Pu W IN VEN TOR ATTORNEYS (No Model.) Q v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

' J. W. ERNEST.

FOLDING VOTING BOOTH. No. 543,422. Patented July 23, 1895.

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JUAN W. ERNEST, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

FOLDING VOTING-BOOTH.

$PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,422, dated July 23, 1895. Application filed June 22, 1894. Serial No. 515,361. (No model.)

To all, whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JUAN W. ERNEST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Voting-Booths, of which the following is a specification, reference being had .to the accompanying drawbooth to such an inconsiderable form, together ings, forminga part thereof, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

, This invention relates to voting-booths or independent compartments in which the voter may-prepare his ballot, and has for its object to provide a device of this character which may readily be folded into a small compass not greater than the width and length of the table which forms a part of the booth.

A folding voting ballot-booth is of course not broadly new; but the distinguishing features and important advantage of my invention consist in the reduction of the folded with its few parts and great strength and durability.

Furthermore, a voters booth must necessarily be strong and capable of bearing considerable pressure to avoid wanton breakage, in-

terference with the voter, or manipulation to discover his actions or the nature of the ballot which he contemplates casting, and also that it may last to be used at succeeding elec-' tions.

The invention consists in the novel inventive construction and arrangement of parts necessary to effect the above mentioned and other desirable results, such as, for example,

cheapness of manufacture, and which are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a booth embodying my invention and prepared ready for occupancy. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same with theseveral rods and legs inserted in the body of the table thereof for readiness of transportation, the contents of the said table-body being illustrated in dotted lines for greater perspicuity. Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 with the canvas casing or inclosure removed. Fig.

4 is an elevation, partially in section, of the upper portion of one of the legs and the lower portion of one of the standards which fit therein. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of one of the sockets or castings which I secure to the body or table of the device for the reception of the legs and the supporting-standards. taken upon the line w w. e

In the practice of my invention I construct a table-body A, preferably rectangular in form, and having secured thereto and depending therefrom the sides A, which wholly surround the said table-body. These sides are of such depth as to form a receptacle when inverted for the other parts of the booth. At each of the four corners of the table-body I secure metal angle-braces B, which comprise hollow cylindrical bodies downwardly flaring to leave a tapering aperture B in each of the same. Projecting radially from the socket B at right angles to each other are braces B which engage with the sides A when the socket is in place, and are secured thereto by screws a or any other suitable fastening. These braces B have intervening the same a top flange B which bears upon the top of the sides and the upper surface of the tablebody A, to which it is secured by screws 1), both the top flange and the-braces having screw-holes c for the reception of the said screws. In the top of the socket is an aperture B of considerably-less diameter than the serve to so rigidly secure-the sides of the Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the sametable together, and also to the table itself,

that other fastening would scarcely be required, though I prefer to drive nails horizontally through the top of the sides intothe body'A for greater security, this latter being an important desideratum.

" In the several sockets B are inserted legs -or supports C, which are preferably cylindrical in contour, and at the topthey are tapered upwardly to correspond to the shape of the opening B in the socket, the said legs being also vertically apertured in the top thereof to receive therein the ends D. of the standards D, which are inserted through the apertures B in the sockets and into the top of the legs 0.

Upon the upper ends of the standards D are secured eyelets or loops (1 preferably screwed thereinto, these loops being adapted to receive therein the horizontal rods E, which project considerably beyond the front of the table-body A. As thus constructed, the whole device is rigid and the parts thereof immovable, while at the same time the whole device being totally of wood, except for the castings B, is exceedinglylight in weight.

Suspended from the rods E and stretched around and fastened to the standards D is a canvas casing or covering F, which is secured to the said rods E by means of the loopse secured thereto and clasping around the rods, the ends of the said casing being extended around the forward standardsD and secured thereto by the tacks or pins f. The same may also be secured to the rear standards by similar means. This casing F incloses the frame of the booth at the rear and sides and extends downwardly considerably below the tablebody A to thoroughly conceal the same from view.

From the forward ends of the rods E and secured thereto by tacks or pins f is suspended a second casing F similar to the easing F, but is preferably formed in two sections overlapping at the front and secured together at the top. The rear ends of this casing F extend over and beyond the front ends of the casing F, thereby enabling the rods E to be extended forwardly, sliding in the loops d on the standards E, thus rendering the booth extensible in depth and may be fastoned to the casing F to prevent the rods E from coming out of the loops (1. To maintain the front of the casing F in proper suspension and to hold the ends of the rods E immovably apart, I secure to the flaps or overlapping ends of the casing F, where they join at the top, a cross-rod G, the ends 9 of which are cut out or concaved to correspond to the periphery of the rods E and fit snugly between the two.

In order that the legs 0 and the several standards and rods when folded together and placed in the receptacle formed by the tablebody A, when inverted, may be held therein, I secure to the under surface of the said table-body a short beam H, to which is swiveled at the center a bar H of a length equal to the width of the table, this bar being adapted to rest in alignment with the beam II and also, when turned, to range at right angles thereto.

The operation of the device will be readily apparent from theforegoingdescription,taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the advantages resultant from the use of my invention will be manifest to all who are conversant with the particular class of devices to which my invention appertains or who are experienced in the employment of such. The several parts having been transported to the polling place, the booths are erected by first inserting the legs 0 in the 'sockets B, and pressing upon the table-b0dy partially to the ground, though suff cient space above the ground is left open to render the device available for communities whose law require that the legs of the voter must be visible during the occupancy of the booth. The forward casing F, which is secured to the ends of the rods E, is then opened out, and the said rods inserted in the loops d upon the standards D, and the cross-rod G is then adjusted to rest between and force apart the projecting ends of the rods E. The rods E will also pass through the loops 6 upon the sides of the casing F, thereby assisting to hold the same'upwardly. The booth having been thus properly erected, the person voting enters the same by lifting the flaps at the front of the casing F, and thereupon prepares his ballot upon the table A, the flaps of the casing dropping in place and overlapping as before, thereby completely concealing the voter from View. As the space between the front of the table and the flaps is occupied by the voter, it is desirable that such space he as large as possible, and where the size of the polling-place permits, the rods E are projected forwardly as far as the length thereof will allow. In small rooms,however, the rods may be pushed inwardly, and if necessary the rear ends thereof broken or cut off, the booth then occupying a minimum of space.

When it is desired to transport the booth from one place to another, or when after completion of election it is desired to store the booth away for a length of time pending its further use, I fold the said booth by withdrawing the rods E and the standards D, invert the table-body and withdraw the legs 0. The canvas casings may then be wrapped around the rods and the standards respectively, the said rods, standards, and the supporting legs inserted in the invertedtable-body, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the bar H being then turned till it ranges laterally to the table, the contents thereof being consequently held in position.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A voting booth comprising a suitable desk or table having metal sockets with projecting flanges secured to the table, legs secured in the sockets and removable therefrom, a frame-work secured to the table and removable therefrom, and a flexible covering overlapping in front loosely secured to the removable frame-work, the legs, removable ICO frame-work and covering adaptedto be received in the table and held by a transverse fastening bar.

2. A desk or table comprising the combination of a suitable top having metal sockets with projecting flanges secured to the table, legs secured in the sockets and removable therefrom, and a transversely ranging fastening bar'pivotally secured to the table to fasten said legs therein, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a table, the combination, with a-rectangular body, legs, apertured in the tops thereof, and standards projecting upwardly from the table and adapted to fit in the tops of the legs, of sockets comprising a hollow cylindrical shell-like body tapering upwardly to receive the legs therein, and apertures in the top to receive the standards therethrough, side pieces or braces projectingradially from the sockets at right-angles to each other, and having screw holes therein, and a top flange connectin g the two braces, substantially as shown and described.

4. A folding booth comprising a rectangular table-body having sides depending therefrom of such depth as to form, in conjunction with the table-body when the same is inverted, a box or receptacle, a beam secured to the under-surface of the table-body and having a cross-rod swiveled thereto, sockets at each corner of the body on the outside thereof, secured to the said body and to the sides by braces, the said sockets being hollow and having openings in the upper surface thereof, cy-

" lyndrical legs tapered at the top and fitting in the sockets, the said legs being apertured in the upper ends thereof, standards passing through the openings in the sockets and extending into those of the legs, the said standards projecting upwardly from the table-body, loops in the top of the standards, a canvas casing secured to the standards and surrounding the device at the rear and sides thereof,

the said casing extending from the top of the standards below the table-body, loops secured to the sides of the said casing, rods passing through the loops in the standard and normallyprojecting forwardlybeyond the front of the table-body, the said rods being adapted to slide in thesaid loops to makethe booth laterally extensible, a canvasor other suitable covering secured to the rods, depending therefrom and open at the front, the ends thereof being secured at the top to overlap, and a cross-rod attached to the said front of the easingand resting between the ends of the sidebars to maintain them apart, the whole frame being adapted to collapse and be folded up to side-pieces projecting radially therefrom at right-angles to each other and adapted to be secured to the side of the table, and a flange connecting the side pieces and adapted to be secured to the top of the table, substantially as and for the purpose set'forth.

7. A folding voting booth comprising a table-body having sockets at each corner thereof, legs adapted to be inserted in the said sockets, standards extending through the top of the sockets and into the legs,a flexible casing secured to the standards, rods at the top of the standards, and a casing suspended therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A folding voting booth comprising a table having sockets at each corner thereof, legs inserted in the said sockets, standards extending through the top of the same and into the legs, a flexible casing secured to the standards and surrounding the table at the rear and sides thereof, rods upon the top of the standards at the sides and projecting forwardly beyond the front of the table-body and a casing suspended from the said rods upon thefront and sides of the device, and open at the front, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A desk or table comprising the combination of a top having sides secured thereto as shown and described.

10. In a voting booth, the combination with a table-body constructed in the form of an inverted box, having removable legs inserted therein and a removable folding frame thereon and adapted to receive the same therein when removed, of rods sliding in the top of said frame having a flexible casing secured thereto, the saidgrod's being adapted to be pushed inwardly to carry the casing toward the table-body, or to be drawn outwardly to project the same appreciably beyond the said table-body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. A folding voting booth, comprising a table having sockets at each corner thereof, legs secured within the said sockets, standards extending through the top of the sockets into the legs, the said standards having loops on their upper ends, a flexible casing secured to the standards and inclosing the same at the rear and sides thereof, the said ards below the level of the table-body, rods In testimony that I claim the foregoing as [O sliding in the loops on the standards at each my invention I have signed my name,in presside and laterally extensible therein, a casing ence of two witnesses, this 19th day of June, secured to the rods and depending therefrom 189-1. 5 at the front and sides, the said casing being I 1 open at the front and overlapping and a cross- JUAN ERNES1 rod at the front of the rods held between the Witnesses: same to maintain the said rods apart, substan- PERCY T. GRIFFITH, tially as shown and described. O. GERST. 

